Portable folding table

ABSTRACT

A table includes a table top and four legs. The legs are configured to be mounted to the table top to elevate the table top and to be separated from the table top for storage and transport.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/826,432, filed Sep. 21, 2006, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to tables, and particularly to portable tables. More particularly, the present disclosure is related to a portable table having an interior region for storage of items.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a portable folding table includes a box, a top wall covering an opening into the box, and removable legs coupled to a bottom wall of the box. In a first mode of use, the portable folding table provides an elevated horizontal work surface for a user to dine, play games, or a variety of other activities. In a second mode of use, the portable folding table is configured for transport or storage. In this mode, the user can store equipment inside the box for transport to another place, or configure the table for storage by removing the legs from the exterior of the box and store them in an interior storage region of the box.

In illustrative embodiments, the top wall includes a pair of hinged table surface segments movable between an opened position revealing the interior storage region and a closed position covering the box opening. The interior storage region is suitable for storage of various items and provides a receptacle to store the removable legs for transport or storage of the table. In other illustrative embodiments, the bottom wall of the box includes a downwardly opening leg receptacle configured to store legs that have been separated from the box.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompany figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable folding table in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure showing a table in a use position, the table having four removable legs coupled to leg receivers or mounts coupled to a bottom wall of the table;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable folding table of FIG. 1 showing the table in an assembly position suggesting that hinged table-surface segments are opened to reveal an interior storage region, one of the removable legs is removed from its associated leg receptacle formed in the interior region for coupling to one of the leg receivers, and plate and utensil holders are provided in the interior storage region to secure, for example, dining or other items which may be carried within the portable table;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portable folding table in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure showing a table in a use position, the table having four removable legs coupled to leg receivers coupled to a bottom wall of the table;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the underside of the portable folding table of FIG. 3 showing a leg receptacle formed in the bottom wall of the table and suggesting that two table legs are being moved from the leg receivers to the leg receptacle formed in the bottom wall to configure the table for transport or storage; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the portable folding table of FIG. 4 suggesting that four hinged table-surface segments are closing to configure the table for transport or storage and showing the reverse side of the leg receptacle formed in the bottom wall and extending into an interior region of the table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A portable folding table 10 includes a box 12, a left hinged table surface segment 14, a right hinged table surface segment 16, and removable legs 18 as shown in FIG. 1. In a first mode of use, shown in FIG. 1, table 10 is adapted to provide an elevated horizontal work surface. In this use mode, a user can dine, play games, or perform a variety of other activities. In a second mode of use, shown in FIG. 2, table 10 is configured for transport or storage. In this transport-storage mode, the user can store equipment inside box 12 for transport to another place, or configure the table for storage by removing legs 18 and securing them within box 12.

Box 12 includes a bottom wall 20 and a side wall 22 having a lower portion 24 coupled to bottom wall 20 and an upper portion 26 formed to include an opening 28 into an interior region 30 of box 12. Box 12 also includes a bulkhead 32 positioned to lie in and divide interior region 30 and a rim 34 appended to upper portion 26 as suggested in FIG. 2.

In an illustrative embodiment, bottom wall 20 includes an interior surface 36 and an exterior surface 38 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2. Exterior surface 38 is formed to include downwardly extending leg receivers 40 and four corners 42. A leg receiver 42 is positioned to lie adjacent to each corner 42.

Each leg receiver 40 is configured to receive at least a portion of one of legs 18 to provide a friction fit to retain at least a portion of one of legs 18 therein as shown in FIG. 1. Legs 18 are coupled to leg receivers 40 to establish the use mode for dining or other suitable activities.

As suggested in FIG. 2, left hinged table surface segment 14 is coupled to box 12 to pivot relative to box 12 about a horizontal pivot axis 44. Right hinged table surface segment 16 is coupled to box 12 to pivot relative to box 12 about a horizontal pivot axis 46. Table surface segments 14, 16 are arranged to substantially close opening 28 when table surface segments 14, 16 are in a closed position as suggested in FIG. 1 and to reveal interior storage region 30 upon pivoting movement toward an opened position as suggested in FIG. 2. Table surface segments 14, 16 are secured in place in the closed position by a friction fit between upper portion 26 of side wall 22 and edges of table surface segments 14 and 16.

Left hinged table surface segment 14 is formed to include a rounded indentation 48 formed on an edge 50 opposite of the hinged edge. Right hinged table surface segment 16 is formed to include a rounded indentation 52 formed on an edge 54 opposite of the hinged edge. When surface segments 14 and 16 are in the closed position, rounded indentations 48 and 52 cooperate to define a finger-receiving aperture 56. Aperture 56 is configured to receive a finger of the user to assist the user in moving surface segments 14, 16 to the opened position.

In some embodiments table surface segments 14, 16 may be configured having no hinges. In such configurations, table surface segments 14, 16 may be secured to box 12 by way of a snap fit or friction fit.

Interior surface 36 of bottom wall 20 is formed to include a leg receptacle 58, a utensil keeper 60, and a dish keeper 62 as shown in FIG. 2. In an illustrative embodiment, leg receptacle 58 includes four pairs of U-shaped leg keepers 64 projecting upwardly into interior storage region 30, each pair of leg keepers 64 is configured to receive one of legs 18 to retain one of legs 18 to establish the transport-storage mode of table 10.

Utensil keeper 60 is configured to hold eating utensils or other similar items when table 10 is configured for the transport-storage position. Likewise, dish keeper 62 is configured to hold dishes or other similar objects for transport or storage.

Table 10 further includes a carrying handle 66 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Carrying handle 66 is coupled to side wall 22 to assist the user in transporting table 10.

In a second illustrative embodiment, a portable folding table 110 includes a box 112, first, second, third, and fourth hinged table surface segments 114, 115, 116, and 117, and removable legs 118 as shown in FIG. 3. In a first mode of use, shown in FIG. 3, table 110 is adapted to provide an elevated horizontal work surface. In this use mode, a user can dine, play games, or display a variety of items. In a second mode of use, shown in FIG. 4, table 110 is configured for transport or storage. In this transport-storage mode, the user can store equipment inside box 112 for transport to another place, or configure the table for storage by removing legs 118.

Box 112 includes a bottom wall 120 and a side wall 122 having a lower portion 124 coupled to bottom wall 120 and an upper portion 126 formed to include an opening 128 into an interior region 130 of box 112. Box 112 also includes a cross-shaped bulkhead 132 positioned to lie in and divide interior region 130 and a rim 134 appended to upper portion 126 as suggested in FIG. 5.

Bottom wall 120 includes an interior surface 136 and an exterior surface 138. Exterior surface 138 is formed to include a downwardly extending leg receiver 140 positioned to lie at each corner 142 of exterior surface 138.

Each leg receiver 140 is configured to receive at least a portion of one of the legs 118 to provide a friction fit to retain at least a portion of one of the legs 118 therein. Legs 118 are coupled to leg receivers 140 to establish the use mode for dining or other suitable activities.

As suggested in FIG. 5, first and second table surface segments 114, 115 are coupled along a left edge to box 112 to pivot relative to box 112 about a horizontal pivot axis 144. Third and fourth hinged table surface segment 116, 117 are coupled to box 12 along a right edge to pivot relative to box 112 about a horizontal pivot axis 146. Table surface segments 114, 115, 116, and 117 are arranged to substantially close opening 128 when table surface segments 114, 115, 116, and 117 are in a closed position as suggested in FIG. 3 and to reveal interior storage region 130 upon pivoting movement toward an opened position as suggested in FIG. 4. Table surface segments 114, 115, 116, and 117 are secured in place in the closed position by a friction fit between upper portion 126 of side wall 122 and edges of table surface segments 114, 115, 116, and 117.

In some embodiments table surface segments 114, 115, 116, and 117 may be configured having no hinges. In such configurations, table surface segments 114, 115, 116, and 117 may be secured to box 112 by way of a snap fit or friction fit.

In an illustrative embodiment, exterior surface 138 is formed to include an opening exposing a leg receptacle 158 having four U-shaped channels 164 positioned to lie in a side-by-side relation to one another as shown in FIG. 4. Each U-shaped channel 164 is configured to receive one of legs 118 to retain legs 118 when table 110 is being configured for transport or storage. As suggested in FIG. 5, a reverse side of U-shaped channels 164 extends into interior storage region 130.

Table 110 further includes a carrying handle 166 as shown in FIGS. 3-5. Carrying handle 166 is coupled to side wall 122 to assist the user in transporting table 110.

Portable table 10 comprises a table top 11 including a bottom wall 20 and a side wall 22 coupled to bottom wall 20 and arranged to cooperate with bottom wall 20 to define an interior storage region 30 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2. Table top 11 also includes a top wall 13 coupled to side wall 22 to cover a top aperture bounded by side wall 22 and arranged to open into interior storage region 30. Top wall 13 includes segments 14, 16 in the illustrated embodiment.

Portable table 10 also comprises a table-top elevation system 25 including leg mounts 40 and legs 18. Leg mounts 40 are coupled to an underside of table top 111 as suggested in FIGS. 1-3. Legs 18 are configured to be mated to leg mounts 40 to support table top 111 in an elevated position as suggested in FIG. 1 and to be separated from leg mounts 40 to facilitate transport of table top 11 as suggested in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, bottom wall 20 is formed to include storage means 19 for coupling legs 18 to table top 11 following separation of legs 18 from leg mounts 40 to retain legs 18 in storage-and-transport positions on table top 11 so that legs 18 are coupled to table top 11 to form a compact unit that may be transported easily from one place to another.

Bottom wall 20 includes a plate 21 coupled to side wall 22 and formed to include an interior surface 36 facing into interior storage region 30 as shown in FIG. 2. Storage means 19 is coupled to interior surface 36 of plate 21 and arranged to lie in interior storage region 30 of table top 11 as suggested in FIG. 2. Storage means 19 includes a U-shaped leg keeper 64 coupled to interior surface 36 of plate 21 and associated with each leg 18 to be stored in interior storage region 30 of table top 11. Each U-shaped leg keeper 64 is configured to provide channel means 65 for receiving a portion of a leg 18 therein and retaining the leg 18 in a fixed position in interior storage region 30 of table top 11 as suggested in FIG. 2.

Storage means 19 includes four sets of leg keepers 64 as suggested in FIG. 2. Each set of leg keepers 64 includes a first leg keeper 64a coupled to interior surface 36 of plate 21 and associated with a first end of a companion leg 18 and a second leg keeper 64 b coupled to interior surface 36 of plate 21. Each second leg keeper 64 b is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to a companion first leg keeper 64 a and is associated with an opposite second end of the companion leg 18. First and second leg keepers 64 a, 64 b in each set of leg keepers 64 cooperate to provide means for gripping a companion leg 18 to retain said companion leg 18 in a storage-and-transport position in interior storage region 30 of table top 11.

Table top 11 is formed to include a leg receptacle 19. Legs 18 separated from leg mounts 40 are located in the leg receptacle 19 and coupled to table top 11 as suggested in FIG. 2 to form a compact unit that may be transported easily from one place to another following separation of legs 18 from leg mounts 40. Table top 11 includes a bottom wall 20 carrying leg mounts 40 and an article-storage chest 23 lying in spaced-apart relation to leg mounts 40 to locate bottom wall 20 therebetween. Bottom wall 20 is formed to include leg receptacle 19.

Article-storage chest 23 includes a side wall 22 coupled to bottom wall 20 and arranged to cooperate with bottom wall 20 to define an interior storage region 30 as suggested in FIGS. 1-3. Leg receptacle 19 is located in interior storage region 30. Leg receptacle 19 comprises a U-shaped leg keeper 64 associated with each leg 18. Each U-shaped leg keeper 64 is configured to provide channel means 65 for receiving a portion of a leg 18 therein and retaining a leg 18 in a fixed position in interior storage region 30.

Portable table 110 comprises a table top 111 including a bottom wall 120 and a side wall 122 coupled to bottom wall 120 and arranged to cooperate with bottom wall 120 to define an interior storage region 130 as suggested in FIGS. 3-5. Table top 111 also includes a top wall 113 coupled to side wall 122 to cover a top aperture bounded by side wall 122 and arranged to open into interior storage region 130. Top wall 113 includes segments 114, 115, 116, and 117 in the illustrated embodiment.

Portable table 110 also comprises a table-top elevation system 125 including leg mounts 140 and 118. Leg mounts 140 are coupled to an underside of table top 111 as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 4. Legs 118 are configured to be mated to leg mounts 140 to support table top 111 in an elevated position as suggested in FIG. 3 and to be separated from leg mounts 140 to facilitate transport of table top 111 as suggested in FIG. 4. Bottom wall 120 is formed to include storage means 119 for coupling legs 118 to table top 111 following separation of legs 118 from leg mounts 140 to retain legs 118 in storage-and-transport positions on table top 111 so that legs 118 are coupled to table top 111 to form a compact unit that may be transported easily from one place to another.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, bottom wall 120 includes a plate 121 coupled to side wall 122. Plate 121 is formed to include an interior surface 136 facing into interior storage region 130 and an exterior surface 138 facing away from interior storage region 130. Bottom wall 120 also includes a leg receptacle 158 coupled to plate 121 and located in an opening 137 formed in exterior surface 138. Leg receptacle 158 is configured to define storage means 119.

Leg receptacle 158 is arranged to face downwardly toward ground 159 underlying table top 111 and contacting free ends of legs 118 mated with leg mounts 140 included in table top 111 when legs 118 are coupled to leg mounts 140 to elevate table top 111 above the underlying ground 139. Legs 118 are arranged to lie in leg receptacle 158 and face toward the underlying ground 139 when legs 118 are retained in the storage-and-transport positions. Leg receptacle 158 is formed to include four U-shaped channels 164 arranged to lie in side-by-side relation to one another to cooperate to define storage means 119 and each U-shaped channel 164 is configured to receive and retain one of legs 18.

Table top 111 includes four leg mounts 140 as shown in FIG. 4. Each leg mount 140 is located near a corner included in bottom wall 120 of table top 111. Storage means 119 includes a leg receptacle 158 located in a space between the four leg mounts 140 and arranged to open downwardly away from interior storage region 130 of table top 111.

Article-storage chest 123 includes a side wall 122 coupled to bottom wall 120 and arranged to cooperate with bottom wall 120 to define an interior storage region 130 as suggested in FIG. 4. Leg receptacle is formed to include a leg-receiving opening located outside of interior storage region 130 as shown in FIG. 4. 

1. A portable table comprising a table top including a bottom wall, a side wall coupled to the bottom wall and arranged to cooperate with the bottom wall to define an interior storage region, and a top wall coupled to the side wall to cover a top aperture bounded by the side wall and arranged to open into the interior storage region, and a table-top elevation system including leg mounts coupled to the table top and legs configured to be mated to the leg mounts to support the table top in an elevated position and to be separated from the leg mounts to facilitate transport of the table top, wherein the bottom wall is formed to include storage means for coupling the legs to the table top following separation of the legs from the leg mounts to retain the legs in storage-and-transport positions on the table top so that the legs are coupled to the table top to form a compact unit that may be transported easily from one place to another.
 2. The portable table of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall includes a plate coupled to the side wall and formed to include an interior surface facing into the interior region and the storage means is coupled to the interior surface of the plate and arranged to lie in the interior storage region of the table top.
 3. The portable table of claim 2, wherein the storage means includes a U-shaped leg keeper coupled to the interior surface of the plate and associated with each leg to be stored in the interior storage region of the table top and each U-shaped leg keeper is configured to provide channel means for receiving a portion of a leg therein and retaining the leg in a fixed position in the interior storage region of the table top.
 4. The portable table of claim 2, wherein the storage means includes four sets of leg keepers, each set of leg keepers includes a first leg keeper coupled to the interior surface of the plate and associated with a first end of a companion leg and a second leg keeper coupled to the interior surface of the plate and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first leg keeper and associated with an opposite second end of the companion leg, and the first and second leg keepers in each set of leg keepers cooperate to provide means for gripping a companion leg to retain said companion leg in a storage-and-transport position in the interior region of the table top.
 5. The portable table of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall includes a plate coupled to the side wall and formed to include an interior surface facing into the interior storage region and an exterior surface facing away from the interior storage region, the bottom wall also includes a leg receptacle coupled to the plate and located in an opening formed in the exterior surface, and the leg receptacle is configured to define the storage means.
 6. The portable table of claim 5, wherein the leg receptacle is arranged to face downwardly toward ground underlying the table top and contacting free ends of the legs mated with the leg mounts included in the table top when the legs are coupled to the leg mounts to elevate the table top above the underlying ground and the legs are arranged to lie in the leg receptacle and face toward the underlying ground when the legs are retained in the storage-and-transport positions.
 7. The portable table of claim 6, wherein the leg receptacle is formed to include four U-shaped channels arranged to lie in side-by-side relation to one another to cooperate to define the storage means and each U-shaped channel is configured to receive and retain one of the legs.
 8. The portable table of claim 1, wherein the table-top elevation system includes four leg mounts, each leg mount is located near a corner included in the bottom wall of the table top, and the storage means includes a leg receptacle located in a space between the four leg mounts and arranged to open downwardly away from the interior storage region of the table top.
 9. The portable table of claim 8, wherein the leg receptacle is formed to include four U-shaped channels arranged to lie in side-by-side relation to one another to cooperate to define the storage means and each U-shaped channel is configured to receive and retain one of the legs.
 10. A portable table comprising a table top and a table-top elevation system including leg mounts coupled to the table top and legs configured to be mated to the leg mounts to support the table top in an elevated position and to be separated from the leg mounts to facilitate transport of the table top, wherein the table top is formed to include a leg receptacle and legs separated from the leg mounts are located in the leg receptacle and coupled to the table top to form a compact unit that may be transported easily from one place to another following separation of the legs from the leg mounts.
 11. The portable table of claim 10, wherein the table top includes a bottom wall carrying the leg mounts and an article-storage chest lying in spaced-apart relation to the leg mounts to locate the bottom wall therebetween and wherein the bottom wall is formed to include the leg receptacle.
 12. The portable table of claim 11, wherein the article-storage chest includes a side wall coupled to the bottom wall and arranged to cooperate with the bottom wall to define an interior storage region and wherein the leg receptacle is located in the interior storage region.
 13. The portable table of claim 11, wherein the leg receptacle comprises a U-shaped leg keeper associated with each leg and each U-shaped leg keeper is configured to provide channel means for receiving a portion of a leg therein and retaining a leg in a fixed position in the interior storage region.
 14. The portable table of claim 11, wherein the article-storage chest includes a side wall coupled to the bottom wall and arranged to cooperate with the bottom wall to define an interior storage region and wherein the leg receptacle is formed to include a leg-receiving opening located outside of the interior storage region. 